Senators advance in 5, Canadiens go home

Ottawa Senators' Kyle Turris (7) celebrates his goal on Montreal Canadiens goalie Peter Budaj as Canadiens' Tomas Plekanec (14) and P.K. Subban (76) look on during the second period of their Game 5 first round NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series in Montreal on Thursday, May 9, 2013. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Ryan Remiorz)
— AP

Ottawa Senators' Kyle Turris (7) celebrates his goal on Montreal Canadiens goalie Peter Budaj as Canadiens' Tomas Plekanec (14) and P.K. Subban (76) look on during the second period of their Game 5 first round NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series in Montreal on Thursday, May 9, 2013. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Ryan Remiorz)
/ AP

Ottawa Senators left wing Cory Conacher (89) celebrates with teammate Jean-Gabriel Pageau after scoring the first goal against the Montreal Canadiens during the first period of Game 5 first-round NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff, Thursday, May 9, 2013, in Montreal. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Ryan Remiorz)— AP

Ottawa Senators left wing Cory Conacher (89) celebrates with teammate Jean-Gabriel Pageau after scoring the first goal against the Montreal Canadiens during the first period of Game 5 first-round NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff, Thursday, May 9, 2013, in Montreal. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Ryan Remiorz)
/ AP

Montreal Canadiens goaltender Peter Budaj, right, reacts with fellow players Josh Gorges, left, and Tomas Plekanec after being scored on by the Ottawa Senators during the third period of Game 5 first round NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series in Montreal, Thursday, May 9, 2013. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Graham Hughes)— AP

Montreal Canadiens goaltender Peter Budaj, right, reacts with fellow players Josh Gorges, left, and Tomas Plekanec after being scored on by the Ottawa Senators during the third period of Game 5 first round NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series in Montreal, Thursday, May 9, 2013. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Graham Hughes)
/ AP

Ottawa Senators' Cory Conacher (89) scores against Montreal Canadiens goaltender Peter Budaj during the first period of Game 5 first round NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series in Montreal, Thursday, May 9, 2013. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Graham Hughes)— AP

Players from the Ottawa Senators celebrate after defeating the Montreal Canadiens in Game 5 first-round NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series in Montreal, Thursday, May 9, 2013. Ottawa took the best-of-seven series 4-1. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Graham Hughes)— AP

His team, backed by the superb goaltending of Craig Anderson, outskated and generally outclassed the Canadiens in an often-rugged matchup. MacLean and Canadiens coach Michel Therrien seemed to be at each other's throats the entire series.

"I thought the whole series was fun," MacLean said. "I didn't think it was bitter at any time. At the end of the series it's just `good job,' `good job.' I congratulate Michel on his team."

Anderson's rock-solid play and some shaky moments for Montreal backup Peter Budaj put the Senators through. Budaj was in for injured regular goalie Carey Price, who wasn't a standout when he played, either.

Ottawa moves on for the first time since 2007, when it lost in the Stanley Cup finals to the Anaheim Ducks.

"Finding a way to win two games in this building feels great and so was being able to finish it off on our first chance," Senators captain Daniel Alfredsson said. "Andy made some great saves and we took over more and more as the game went on."

Anderson, who posted heady numbers in the regular season, was just as sharp in the playoffs, holding the usually high-scoring Canadiens to nine goals in five games. His own supposedly low-scoring team piled on 20 against Price and Budaj.

"For our team, Craig Anderson obviously was the MVP of this playoff series," MacLean said. "He was outstanding in every game. "He gives us a chance to bend but not break, to recover, get our bearings. And once we do that, we're able to establish our game."

He got no argument from his Montreal counterpart, Michel Therrien.

"He was the player of the series," Therrien said.

Montreal came into the series as the favorite after winning the Northeast Division to grab the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference. Ottawa was No. 7.

"The last two weeks we had a lot of bad luck. But for us and my approach with the team and our approach since Day 1, that was not an excuse," Therrien said. "I don't think the players used that as an excuse because every game, the way that they were preparing and started the game, I could tell that was not an excuse."

Anderson made the difference right off the bat in this one.

Injury-wracked Montreal came out quickly, but Anderson shot out his glove for a brilliant save on Rene Bourque in the opening moments.

"I think everyone took a good deep breath after that and said, `We can start playing now,'" Anderson said of the save. "They came out hard.

"My job is to give the team a chance to win no matter if it's the first minute or the last."